When taking a flight, passengers usually expect comfort and exceptional service. While this is the standard for most airlines, some truly stand out. These airlines distinguish themselves through consistent care and reliability, making them trusted options compared to their competitors.
According to the World’s Top 100 Airlines report by Skytrax, an internationally recognized organization that assesses airlines worldwide, several African airlines are leading the way in service delivery and have become preferred choices for travelers.
Skytrax’s 2023-2024 survey assessed over 325 airlines and involved participation from more than 100 nationalities of customers from September 2023 to May 2024.
Participants were asked to nominate their preferred airline or the one they deemed the best, providing ratings that reflected their satisfaction with various aspects of the travel experience, both at the airport and onboard.
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1. Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines was named the best airline on the continent for 2024 for the seventh consecutive year.
“At Ethiopian Airlines, our unwavering dedication to customer-centric innovation has been pivotal to our success. We remain at the forefront of the aviation industry by continually adopting cutting-edge technology to elevate our passengers’ experience,”
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew said.
The airline has been in operation for 78 years and joined Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline network, in 2011.
It serves 136 international passenger and cargo destinations, including 63 African cities, with daily and multiple flights. Ethiopian Airlines has received several awards and accolades, solidifying its position as Africa’s leading airline.
2. Royal Air Maroc
Royal Air Maroc, founded in 1957, is Morocco’s national carrier and the country’s largest airline. It connects Morocco to over 90 destinations in more than 50 countries.
Headquartered at Casablanca-Anfa Airport, the airline joined the Oneworld Airline Alliance in 2020. Royal Air Maroc offers both domestic and international flights to Asia, Europe, and North and South America, and also provides chartered flights.
3. South African Airways
South African Airways ranked third among Africa’s top airlines. Established in 1934, it is South Africa’s flag carrier. The airline is headquartered at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and serves 57 destinations.
South African Airways has been on Skytrax’s best airlines list for 13 consecutive years and is Africa’s first 4-star airline.
4. Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways, known by its IATA code KQ, was established in 1977 and is Kenya’s flag carrier airline. It flies to over 40 destinations and has received several accolades.
Kenya Airways achieved IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification in 2005, becoming the first carrier in sub-Saharan Africa to receive this safety certification.
KQ boasts a fleet of 34 aircraft, including Boeing and Embraer jets.
5. RwandAir
RwandAir is Rwanda’s national airline, established in 2002. Based at Kigali International Airport, it operates domestic and international flights to East Africa, Central Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
The airline is a member of the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) and boasts a fleet of 14 aircraft, including Boeing 737-800NGs and CRJ900NGs.
6. Air Mauritius
Air Mauritius is the national airline of Mauritius, established in 1967. The airline operates a two-class configuration on its flights; business class and economy class, and has been given a 4-star rating by Skytrax.
It operates direct flights to 14 regional and international destinations, including Europe, India, Asia, Australia, and the Indian Ocean islands.
7. Egyptair
Egypt’s flag carrier Airline Egyptair was established in 1932 and is based at Cairo International Airport.
The airline boasts a fleet of 70 aircraft and flies to over 80 destinations worldwide, covering Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
8. Airlink
Airlink is a regional airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It operates flights to over 45 destinations throughout Southern Africa, including Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Madagascar.
Airlink operates over 70,000 scheduled flights annually, serving more than 3 million customers and connecting smaller, underserved towns to larger hub airports.
9. Lift
Lift is relatively new in the aviation scene having been founded in 2020. It is based in South Africa and operates 20 daily flights. The airline operates a modern fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, providing efficient and comfortable travel experiences.
Despite being new, the airline has gained popularity thanks to its customer-centric approach. It also offers an innovative payment system known as the LIFT wallet, a secure‚ electronic Wallet linked to a customer’s profile. One can save for flights over time and easily manage cancellations.
10. FlySafair
FlySafair is a low-cost airline based in South Africa, which began operations in 2014. It flies to 15 destinations across the continent and operates a fleet of 22 aircraft.
FlySafair is known for its relatively lower fares compared to its competitors, making it a popular choice for budget-conscious travellers.
